Good or Bad? Euro area unemployment 7.5% and EU28 6.3%

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5% in July 2019, stable compared with June 2019 and down from 8.1% in July 2018. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since July 2008. The EU28 unemployment rate was 6.3% in July 2019, stable compared with June 2019 and down from 6.8% in July 2018. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

European Union has put forward several initiatives to help get more people into work. This includes the Youth Guarantee, the Youth Employment Initiative, the Recommendation on long-term unemployment and the Skills Agenda for Europe.

The European Commission’s goal has been to improve the quality, as well as the number, of jobs in the EU, to secure fair working conditions and safeguard social rights.

Do you feel this economic growth and EU strength?

The situation varies significantly across the EU with Germany boasting just 3.1% unemployment, while it’s still over 18% in Greece.

Voters are not particularly enthused about these numbers in Germany last weekend!

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in July 2019 were recorded in Czechia (2.1%) and Germany (3.0%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (17.2% in May 2019) and Spain (13.9%).